760 REPORT— 1901. 



result thus : ' Out of ")00 examined, 214 were dull and backward (it being under- 

 stood that the backwardness arose from the child's condition, not from home 

 conditions), '27(i were mentally feeble, 4 were deaf-mutes, and did not appear 

 to be sufficiently behindliand to come under either of these terms.' 



Adding the proportion lor the voluntary schools in Manchester, we have 

 about 1,000 children who are nientall)' luisound in the day-schools at one time. 

 Since then I have worked in a similar manner through all the voluntary schools 

 in a large non-School Board area with similar results. Wherever an attempt 

 has been made to obtain correct statistics, these hgures are confirmed. To con- 

 clude. Prudence, economy, and humanity demand that we shall deal with this 

 question rationally. It is possible at an early age to detect the unsound brain ; 

 scientific morality demands that we shall take care that our weak-minded children 

 are always protected, so as to render them harmless to themselves and Society. 



I shall ask you to dwell on these facts : — 



Our workhouses and lunatic asylums cannot provide for our derelict population. 



Lunacy and imbecility and pauperism are largely on the increase. 



Two per cent, at least of our school-going population are in some degree 

 weak-minded — some more, some less. Feebleness of mind is hereditary, with an 

 increasing intensity. 



Almost all feeble-minded persons are at large during the most critical period 

 of their lives, and most become parents. 



It would be easy to detain such persons if the detention were commenced in 

 early youth, and they could be kept happy, harmless, and partially self-supporting 

 for their whole lives. They would then be no danger to Society, and they would 

 be far smaller expense than they are. 



JRe2)ort on the Economic Effect of Legislation regulating Women's 

 Labour. — See Reports, p. 399. 



